Our meeting
The Covid-19 pandemic has had devastating economic consequences for many countries, including Namibia: many people have lost their income and are unable to afford even the most basic things such as rent and food for themselves and their families. Therefore, we wanted to help with food donations, and so our paths crossed with the team of the “Hands of Hope Foundation Namibia”. Since the beginning of the crisis, they have been working tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of the people. At that time and with a common goal in mind, they became an important and irreplaceable partner for us.
We were deeply impressed by the willingness and organizational talent of Niki and Sarel Carstens, the founders of Hands of Hope. Not only are they themselves constantly and tirelessly at the front, they have also built up a network with which they can operate throughout Namibia. Through our joint efforts in the Covid-19 crisis, we got to know their working methods and their team better, so that this has resulted in a long-term cooperation in which we can learn from and support each other.
The Philosophy
Heavy fates and encountering setbacks can hit everyone and in this case everyone deserves a helping hand that gets him back on his feet. Whether they are single mothers, older people who no longer have anyone, or people who are suffering from malnutrition, illnesses and disabilities, Hands of Hope has set itself the task of reaching out their helping hand to all of them, thereby giving hope and confidence in seemingly hopeless situations.
The implementation
Hands of Hope works with existing social institutions to identify and support the most affected families. They have their headquarter in Swakopmund’s neighbouring town Henties Bay, but they act in accordance with their philosophy throughout Namibia. In doing so, they implement various programmes that address individual problems and needs.